Nagpur: The state govt is gearing up for a massive land acquisition drive for taking over anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 hectares for building the ambitious eastern Vidarbha industrial corridor, an idea mooted over a year ago. A committee has been formed under the leadership of state’s principal secretary (industries) P Anabalgan, with divisional commissioner Vijaylakshmi Bidari as the vice-chairman to chalk out a strategy.At a meeting held on Monday, it was planned to identify the pockets in east Vidarbha districts starting from Nagpur to Gadchiroli, providing connectivity and a series of infrastructure facilities to industries coming up in each of the districts. Already, investments to the tune of nearly 1 lakh crore have been committed in the region. These are the steel units in Gadchiroli and the renewable energy projects like those of Avaada Group, Waaree and other companies coming up in Nagpur. The defence, nuclear and aerospace corridor that has been planned in Saoner would be part of the belt, a source said.Out of the already committed investments, 70% is in Gadchiroli and the rest in Nagpur. The idea is to provide connectivity to all the eastern Vidarbha districts — like Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli. If not a contiguous patch, pockets would be acquired in all districts, providing connectivity in the form of roads, rail and facilities throughout the tract.Multiple agencies are involved in the process. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) would be searching the pockets for acquisition. NHAI and Indian Railways are being roped in for providing connectivity. Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) will be part of the corridor building process. Bhandara-Gadchiroli extension is also expected to add to connectivity, a source said.
